Improved carpet-stretcher



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Leners Patm No. 91,179, dated June s, 1869.

IMPRO'V'ED CARPET'STRETCHER..

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making Apart of thesame.

To all whom it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. STOUT, of Kcyport, in the county ofMonmouth, and State of New Jersey, -have invented an ImprovedCarpet-Stretcher; and I do hereby declare that Vthe following is a fulland exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making part of this specification- Figure 1 being a sidc'viewof the instrument, showing its position when in the ordinary act ofusing it.

Figure 2, a corresponding View, showing its position when the carpet isstretched into place, and secured there by the instrument.`

Figure 3, a bottom view of the instrument. l Like letters designatecorresponding parts in all of the figures. I

This instrument-consists essentially of ahandle, A, afulcrum or upright,B, a stretcher-claw, O, and a holding-spur or dog, D.

' The claw G is formed with or secured firmly to a shank, a, which isinserted into `the handle A, or the claw may form an extension ofthehandle itself.

The fulcrumI Bis pivoted at b, to the claw c, in a proper position,substantially as sho'wn.

' The lower edge of the fulcrum may be continuous, and quite thin,.so asto 4t closely in the corner of a roon, where the floor and base-boardmeet as indicated in g. 2. i

It is kept separated from the claw by a slight spring, j; (fig. 3,) whennot brought into use.A

The claw C, has teeth c, for 'catching hold of the carpet, as usual.

-The holding-dog D is inserted in or secured to the Vhandle A, justforward of where the hand grasps the handle. It consists of aspur with asharp point, which can be readilyforced into the floor, when required tohold the carpet in place.- It may have a brace, d, extending forward tothe handle, as .indicated in the drawings.

In' u'sing my improved carpet-stretcher, the fulcrum B is ordinarilykept, by the spring j; out of the wayof the claw O, as indicated in fig.v1. Thus the carpet can be stretched either by engaging the c law C intothe edge, or any part of the middle of a carpet-breadth, over any partof the door, ex-

i actlyasanordinary carpet-stretcher is used, no attention being gyen tothe fulcrum. But when, at any time, additional' power is w'a'nted, thehandle is raised till the lower edge or end of the fulcum rests on thefloor, and then, by thus bringing the powerful leverage produced inworking on the fulcrum, into operation, the carpet is easily forcedalong.

This act of usinglthe. fulcrum causes the claw G to raise the carpetfrom the Hoor, so that a great amount of friction is taken away, an'dthe work is performed with half the labor that would be required t0stretch the carpet, while forcibly pressed down upon the door,

as in ordinary carpetstretchiug. This is a very imment,'the pointed dogD is forced down into the oor,`

and holds the carpet in place till it is nailed down, or otherwisefastened there. v

Thus it is seen that the YfulcrumB produces two very importantadvantages rst, raising the carpet from the floor and therebydiminishing friction; second, bringing the claw with the edge of thecarpet, exactly into place.

Any nnessential variation of the construction may be adopted if desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The fulcrum B, arranged and operating, in combination with the claw C ofa carpet-stretcher, substantially as and for the purpose hereinspecified.

Also, the dog D, attached to the handle A, and operating in combinationwith" the claw O, pivoted upon the fulcrum B., substantially as and forthe purpose herein set forth.A

The above specification of my improved carpetstretcher signed by me,this 16th day of June, 1868.

THOS. B. STOUT.

Witnesses:

EUGENIA S. TAYLOR, Masons B. TAYLOR.

